LISBON — Benfica face a enormous
task in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday but after already
knocking out
Barcelona and Ajax, there is the belief they can spring another
surprise against Liverpool.
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Many circled Benfica as the
kindest opponent available when the draw was made in Nyon last month, with this
the furthest the Portuguese club have gone in the
Champions League in six
years.
The last time Benfica made the
semis, they went on to reach the final, in 1990, when a team coached by Sven-Goran
Eriksson lost 1–0 to AC Milan and missed out on lifting their third European
Cup.
That was the last time Benfica
really belonged with
Europe's elite and it would be the shock of the round if
they were to upset Liverpool, who, along with Manchester City, are surely this
year's tournament favorites.
Benfica's impressive run in the
Champions League has belied a tumultuous season domestically for the club, who
parted ways with Jorge Jesus as coach in December following a 3–0 defeat by
Porto and just seven wins out from their first 15 matches.
But their form has not been much
better under interim coach Nelson Verissimo, who began with only two wins from
his first seven while a 3–2 defeat by Braga on Friday has the team sitting
third in the Primeira Liga, 12 points adrift of leaders Porto and six behind
Sporting Lisbon.
Third place in
Portugal is only
enough to make the Champions League qualifiers.
"We know it's Liverpool,
but we have to fight, we can play better," Verissimo said on Friday.
"We always have to work. The
Champions League game is different. We can't forget our game today because
Liverpool will see it. We have to correct it."
Better performances in Europe have
kept Benfica's season alive, with the 3–2 aggregate victory over Ajax in the
last 16 as welcome as it was surprising.
They were outplayed by Ajax for
large spells in Lisbon but managed to claim a 2–2 draw, before snatching a 1–0
win in Amsterdam to go through.
Nunez key to Benfica hopes
Darwin Nunez headed in the winner
at the Johan Cruyff Arena and the Uruguayan will be well-known to Liverpool
given he reportedly has many admirers in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old has 27 goals in 34
games this season, including a brace in Benfica's 3–0 win over Barcelona in the
group stage in September.
Jan Vertonghen and
Nicolas Otamendi will be familiar faces too, the former Tottenham and Manchester City
defenders taking their place at the heart of the Benfica defense.
Another former Spurs player, Adel
Taraabt, is now plying his trade in central midfield. Rafa Silva, with his 15
assists in the league, is the team's most creative source.
"People already put us in the
semi-finals of the Champions League, I don't see it that way," said
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp on Saturday. "Benfica can be extremely strong
if you let them."
Sixteen years ago, Benfica beat
Liverpool 2–0 at Anfield to seal a 3–0 aggregate win and reach the
quarter-finals.
Simao Sabrosa, now Benfica's
director of international relations, fired past Pepe Reina to score the second
goal and send Liverpool crashing out.
"Of course history can be
repeated," Sabrosa said last week. "We've also eliminated Barcelona,
who were in our group, and Ajax. Looking at the two teams, it is possible
to do it again.
"It's scary to look at this
Liverpool team but we're going to take the field with the result at 0–0, 11 against 11
and anything can happen."
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